For decision points 2 and 3, use the first rule that applies. For example, if a table says to fold if condition x is true, and raise if condition y is true, then go by the rule listed first. Unless otherwise noted, conditions listed are for all player cards, including both hole cards and community cards.
Decision Point 1
Hole Cards
Rank(s)
Strategy
One Pair
2's
Check
All other
Raise
Suited
Ace + any
Raise
King + any
Raise
Queen + 6 or better
Raise
Jack + 8 or better
Raise
All other
Check
Unsuited
Ace + any
Raise
King + 5 or better
Raise
Queen + 8 or better
Raise
Jack + Ten
Raise
All other
Check
Decision Point 2
Always raise a Straight, Flush, Full House, Four of a Kind, or Straight Flush.
Hole Cards
Your Best Five-Card Hand
Strategy
Pair of 2's
Pair of 2's
- Raise if the flop was A34, A35, A45, or 345.
- Raise with four to a Flush if the highest suited card towards the flush is an 8 or better.
- Raise with four to a Straight Flush.
- Check all other.
Two Pair
- Always check
Three of a Kind
- Always raise
All Other
No Pair
- Always check with suited 23, 24, 25, 26, or 34.
- Always check with unsuited 57 or lower.
- Raise with four to a Flush if the highest card towards the flush is a jack or better.
One Pair
- Always raise if one of your hole cards is part of the pair.
- Raise certain shared pairs as follows:
Hole Cards
Rule
4K, 3K, 2K
Raise AA.
Raise QQ with any A,J,T highest kicker.
Raise JJ with any A,Q highest kicker.
Raise all other pairs with an ace highest kicker.
7Q
Raise AA or KK.
6Q
Raise AA or KK with any highest kicker except 7.
5Q
Raise AA or KK with any highest kicker except 6,7,8.
4Q
Raise AA or KK with any highest kicker except 5,6,7,8.
3Q
Raise AA with any K,J,2 highest kicker.
Raise KK with any A,J,T,9 highest kicker.
2Q
Raise AA with any K,J,T highest kicker.
Raise KK with any A,J,T,9 highest kicker.
9J
Raise AA with any K,Q highest kicker.
Raise KK with any A,Q,T highest kicker.
Raise QQ with any A,K,T,8 highest kicker.
Raise TT with any K,Q,8,7 highest kicker.
Raise 88 with any Q,T highest kicker.
8J
Raise QQ with any A,T,9 highest kicker.
Raise TT with any Q,9 highest kicker.
Raise 99 with any Q,T highest kicker.
9T
Raise KK with any Q,J highest kicker.
Raise QQ with any K,J,8 highest kicker.
Raise JJ with any K,Q,8,7 highest kicker.
Raise 88 with any J,7 highest kicker.
Raise 77 with an 8 highest kicker.
8T
Raise QQ with a jack highest kicker.
Raise JJ with any Q,9 highest kicker.
Raise 99 with any J,7 highest kicker.
- Check all other
Two Pair
- Always raise
Three of a Kind
- Raise if a hole card is part of the Three of a Kind.
- Raise certain shared Three of a Kinds as follows:
Hole Cards
Rule
4K, 3K, 2K, 7Q
Always raise
6Q
Raise three 7's or better.
5Q, 4Q, 3Q, 2Q, 5J
Raise three K's or better.
9J, 8J, 7J, 6J
Raise three Q's or better.
- Check all other
Decision Point 3
Always raise a Straight, Flush, Full House, Straight Flush, or Royal Flush.
Hole Cards
Your Best 5-Card Hand
Strategy
Pair of 2's
Pair of 2's
- Fold if the board contains four to an outside or double-inside Straight
- Fold if the board contains any four suited cards
- Raise all other
Two Pair
- Fold if the board contains four to an outside Straight Flush
- Raise certain shared Two Pair hands as follows:
Low Pair
High Pair
Rule
TT to KK
JJ to AA
Raise if the highest kicker is 9 or better.
33 to 99
JJ to AA
Raise if the highest kicker is 10 or better.
33 to 99
44 to TT
Raise if the highest kicker is jack or better.
22
33 to AA
Always raise.
- Fold all other.
Three of a Kind
- Always raise
Four of a Kind
- Fold if the board contains four 3's through 8's, with any kicker of 9 or less.
- Fold if the board contains four 9's through A's, with any kicker of 8 or less.
- Raise all other
All Other
No Pair
- Fold if the board contains four suited cards
- Raise certain other hands as follows:
Highest Hole Card
Rule
King
Raise with AQ, AJ, AT, A9, A8, QJ,QT,JT
Queen
Raise with AK, AJ, KJ
Jack
Raise with AK, AQ, KQ
10
Raise with AKQ, AKJ, AQJ, KQJ
9
Raise with AKQJ, AKQT, AKJT, AQJT
- Fold all other
One Pair
- Fold if the board contains four to a Straight Flush
- Raise if one of your hole cards is part of the pair.
- Raise if your lowest kicker is a 9 or better
- Fold a shared pair if the board also has four to an outside Straight
- Raise certain shared pairs as follows:
Highest Hole Card
Rule
King
Always raise
9, 10, J, Q
Raise a pair of 10's or better
- Fold all other
Two Pair
- Fold if the board contains four to an outside Straight Flush
- Raise if your 5-card hand is better than the board's 5-card hand
- Raise if the kicker is a jack or better
- Fold all other
Three of a Kind
- Raise if a hole card is part of the Three of a Kind.
- Raise if your lowest kicker is a 9 or better.
- Raise certain shared Three of a Kinds as follows:
Highest Hole Card
Rule
King
Always raise
9, 10, J, Q
Raise three 10's or better
- Fold all other
Four of a Kind
- Raise if a hole card completes the Four of a Kind
- Raise if your kicker is a 10 or better
- Fold all other
Terminology:
Board: The five community cards.
Double-inside straight: A set of board cards that has two gaps, each of which can be filled in to make a straight. For example, J9875.
Flop: The first three community cards.
Hole card: A card in the player's two-card hand.
Kicker: A singleton available to the player.
Shared: A hand entirely on the board, shared between player and dealer.
Singleton: A card of a rank which is represented only by itself.
Acknowledgement
This page was created by gaming mathematician "JB," for exclusive use on the Wizard of Odds. The Wizard would like to thank JB for his outstanding work.
